Shorts are a small garment with big sizing questions: do you go by waist or hips, and how long should they be? The answer comes from the same body-measurement charts as trousers, plus a choice of inseam. This calculator reads your waist, hips and height and returns the letter and numeric size, with a note on whether to look for the short, regular or tall version.
How to use the shorts size calculator
- Choose women’s or men’s sizing.
- Measure the waist (narrowest part of the torso) and hips (fullest part), tape horizontal.
- Enter your height to see which inseam version to look at.
- Read the sizes. When waist and hips differ, the hip size is the recommendation.
Shorts size formula (chart lookup)
inseam version: short (women up to 5′4″), regular, tall (women 5′8″–6′, men 6′–6′5″)
short and tall inseams differ from regular by about 2 in (5 cm)
The ranges are copied from Nike’s bottoms charts (retrieved 2026-10-15). They are body measurements, so garment ease is already included. A measurement exactly on an upper limit belongs to that size.
Women
| Women | Waist (in) | Hip (in) |
|---|---|---|
| XXS | 21.25 – 23.5 | 30.5 – 33 |
| XS | 23.5 – 26 | 33 – 35.5 |
| S | 26 – 29 | 35.5 – 38.5 |
| M | 29 – 31.5 | 38.5 – 41 |
| L | 31.5 – 34.5 | 41 – 44 |
| XL | 34.5 – 38.5 | 44 – 47 |
| XXL | 38.5 – 42.5 | 47 – 50 |
Men
| Men | Waist (in) | Hip (in) |
|---|---|---|
| XXS | 22.5 – 25.5 | 28.5 – 31.5 |
| XS | 25.5 – 29 | 31.5 – 35 |
| S | 29 – 32 | 35 – 37.5 |
| M | 32 – 35 | 37.5 – 41 |
| L | 35 – 38 | 41 – 44 |
| XL | 38 – 43 | 44 – 47 |
| XXL | 43 – 47.5 | 47 – 50.5 |
| 3XL | 47.5 – 52.5 | 50.5 – 53.5 |
| 4XL | 52.5 – 57 | 53.5 – 58.5 |
Worked example
A woman with a 30 in waist, 40 in hips and height 5′6″.
- Waist 30 → M; hips 40 → M; numeric size by hips 10.
- Height 5′6″ is between the short and tall bands, so the inseam is Regular.
Choosing the right shorts
- Length: inseams on the product page vary with style; a short inseam looks longer on a shorter person.
- Waistband: elastic waistbands forgive a size error, buttoned ones do not.
- Rise: low-rise shorts sit on the hips; use the hip measurement for these.
- Stretch: if the fabric is non-stretch, take the larger size when between.
For long trousers use the Pants / Trouser Size Calculator, for leggings the Leggings Size Calculator and to estimate an inseam from your height the Inseam Calculator. This page gives general guidance only.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these pages, read directly on the dates shown. Brand names are used only to identify published charts.
- Nike — women’s bottoms size chart (waist, hip, short and tall notes) — checked 2026-10-15
- Nike — men’s bottoms size chart (waist, hip, tall note) — checked 2026-10-15
- Nike — women’s numeric size chart — checked 2026-10-15
- Nike — men’s numeric bottoms chart — checked 2026-10-15
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my shorts size?
Measure your waist and hips, then look both up on the chart. Nike says that if the two measurements point to different sizes you should order the size indicated by your hips, because shorts have to pass over the hips.
What inseam should I choose?
Shorts come in short, regular and tall versions for select styles. On Nike’s charts women’s short bottoms are for heights up to 5′4″ with an inseam 2 in (5 cm) shorter, and tall bottoms for 5′8″ to 6′ with an inseam 2 in longer. Men’s tall bottoms are for 6′ to 6′5″.
What do the letters mean in numbers?
The calculator also gives the numeric size: for women a US number from Nike’s numeric chart, for men the waist label. A medium covers two numeric sizes, so the number is more precise.
What if I am between sizes?
Nike advises the smaller size for a tighter fit or the larger for a looser fit. The calculator rounds up to the next chart value.
Are running shorts sized differently?
Performance shorts often have a liner and stretch, so a snug fit is normal. For long trousers see the Pants / Trouser Size Calculator.